Fixed ammunition for firearms



vMay 7, 1929.

L. DR|GGs, JR., ET AL 1,712,383

FIXED AMMUNITION FOR FIREARMS Filed March 20, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l u a l May 7, 1929- L. L. DRIGGS. JR., ET AL 1,712,383

FIXED AMMUNITION FOR FIREARMS Filed March 20, 1928 2lSheets-Sheet 2 Snvcntors Patented May 7, 1929.

uNrrEo STATES .PATENT OFI-'ica LOIIS L.-DRIGGS,KJR., OF NEW ROCHELLE, AND HENRY IB. FABER, OF YORK, N. Y.

AIMMUNITION FOR FIREARMS.

Application led Maroh-20, 1928. Serial No. 268926 This invention relates to improvements in fixed ammunition for small arms, and it consists in providing a cartridge case of Sullicient size to contain the projectile to be expelled therefrom; and of sufficient strength `and rigidity to serve as an auxiliary barrel when the said cartridge ca se is used with a short barrel small 'arm, such, for instance, as is-illustrated, described and claimed in 1o our co-pending application filed March 20,

1928, Serial #263,024 and entitled Improvements in fire arms. It is the purpose of these inventions to provide for not only low' pressures in the piece and for low initial velocity in the projectile, but to expel a projectile of much greater bulk than the size of the small arm would apparently indicate.

For this purpose, a small arm is made with a short barrel having a smooth bore of com- "paratively large calibre into which therear end of the cartridge case slides freely, and in which it is automatically held until released by hand.

The cartridge case may be in the form of a single cylinder from end to end, but in order to enable the same to carry a projectile of considerably greater diameter than the calibre of thc piece, the part of the cartridge case beyond the barrel of the gun may be enlarged; preferably in the form of a cylinder, concentric with that portion of the cartridge case which projects into the barrel, which may be called the stem of the cartridge case, but of greater diameter than said stem; and this enlarged portion projecting beyond the barrel of the piece serves as an auxiliary barrel to contain the projectile and from which the projectile is expclled when the piece is tired, as will. be

hereinafter explained. The invention will be more fully understood after reference to the accompanying drawings, in which one embodiment of the invention is illustrated, and in which like parts are indicated by similar reference symbols throughout the several views.

Figure `l `is a sectional elevation showing the lower half of the cartridge case and conan tents in a section made by a plane passed through a radius and the longitudinal axis of the cartridge case.

Figure 2 shows a section along the line 2 2 of Figure 1, and 'looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 shows a section along the line 3 3 of Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 4 shows a section along the line 4-4 of Figure 1, and looking in the direction of the arrows. I

Figure 5 shows a section along the line 5 5 of Figure 1 and looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 6 shows the cartridge case mounted in the small arm with the projectile ejected therefrom, as takes place just after firing the piece.

Flgure 7 is adiagrammatic view showing the major elements of the projectile after the Hare and parachute have been ejected from their container.

Figure 8 is a diagram showing the flare and the parachute in the falling position but before the shims containing the parachute have dropped oli' or the parachute has been distended; and

Figure 9 shows the linal position of the parachute and the ilare with the flare burning from its lower end, and the parachute distended and slowly settling to the ground.

A representsA the cartridge case, which is shown as having the enlar ed cylindrical portion a connected by the anged annular shoulder a to the cylindrical stem a2 which stem slides freely in the barrel'of the firearm, as described in our lapplication aforesaid. This stem is provided with an annular groove a3 to engage the spring latch of the firearm, and thereby hold the cartridge case in the firing position in the barrel until it is desired to release same.

This stem is also provided with the perforation a4 forming a chamber for the blank cartridge B, which contains a small amount of explosive sufiicient to propel the projectile from the cartridge case, but not enough to cause excessive recoil.

To limit the shockof recoil, the stem a2 is provided with an expansion chamber A",

4in which the powder gases are free toexpand before acting on the projectile contamed in the loading chamber.

This projectile, which is to be expelled from the loading chamber, ma be built up of various component parts sultable for use in carrying signal flares, smoke producing devices, containers for tear gas or tne like, or small bombs, or any device whlch may be conveniently held in the enlarged portlon of the cartridge case, and expe led at the pro er time, as will be hereinafter described. f owever, inthe embodiment of the 1nvention herein described, we have shown an illuminating flare adapted to be projected the gases of the propelling charge derived from the firing of the small blank cartridge B. This projectile, so defined, comprises a pad of felt or similar material C in front of the base plug E, which may be of wood or other suitable light material. This wooden' plug forms one head of the cylinder D slidably mounted in the enlarged portion a of the cartridge case A, which cylinder contains the flare and the parachute, as will be hereinafter described.

This cylinder D may be made of aluminum, bakelite, cardboard or other suitable material.

The head E is preferably provided with a flange e to engage the end of the cylinder D. This plug E is chambered as at Eo-to contain a suitable expelling Acharge F of black powder or other ex losive, which is ignited a short interval, a ter the piece has been fired, by a suitable fuse, such as f. We have shown two of such fuses as an extra precaution to assure suiicient action, but one only will sufiice. This chamber E0 is closed b a suitable cap e', an ignition charge E or igniting the fla-re.

In front of the plug E is mounted the cylinder G containing the flare composition, which cylinder is preferably made of cardboard, or other combustible material, so that it will burn away as the flare burns. One end of this cylinder G is closed by the thin cap H made of cardboard, or the like, which may be'reudily burned or blown 'out in the operation of the device. An ignition charge l1, may be used to ignite the iare composition if desired.

The other end of the cylinder G is closed by the flare end cap H', which is securely secured in said end of the cylinder, as by cement or any convenient way. Beyond this endcap, which is preferably made of wood or other light material, a space a5 is left in the cartridge'case, in which the iiare suspension wireL is coiled, as will be hereinafter described. In front of this chamber a5 is a gas check or head composed of the felt wad cartridge case, as

r being J and cardboard disk J I', which together form one wall of the parachute chamber in chute is normally held in two or more light I shims N, which fall away when the flare and parachute are ejected, as will be hereinafter described.

The operation of the device is as follows:

Suppose the cartridge case to be loaded,

as shown in Figure 1,and its stem a2 inserted in the barrel of the pistol P with the spring latch p enga 'ng the groove a3 of the escribed 1n our application aforesaid. Now, suppose the piece to be cocked and fired. The powder gases from the propellin charge contained in the small blank cartri ge Bwill eject bodily all the parts constituting the projectile, herein'- efore described, and they will carr with them the cap M at the outer end of t e cartridge -case A.

At the same time the llame from the impelling char evwill ignite the fuses f. The projectile, w en first ejected from the cartridge casejis shown to the right of Figure 6, where D `represents the containing tube or shellyand C represents the felt wad still adhering tothe base plug E. As soon as the proper time interval has elapsed, say two or three seconds after the piece has been fired, one or both of the fuses f will light the ejeeting charge F, and the cylinder G and its contents will be blown forward, and will drive before it the parts containing the parachute, and the parts of the projectile will then assume the position shown in Figure 7, where the tube D has recoiled in one direction and the flarev and parachute have been projected in the opposite direction, the parachute being still held between the shims Nand the wads J and J2. After being freed from the tube D, the flare will tend to fall by its weight, and the shims will drop off the parachute, as shown in Figure 8, and finally,'the parachute will become distended and will lower the iare gradually, as shown in Figure 9. It will be noted that when the ejccting charge F is ignited it will not only blow out the parts of the projectile before it, but it will also ignite the base of the'iiare,

which is opposite the parachute, and whenv vertically in a downward direction,- thus casting a shadow upward.

The length of burning of the flare and the illuminating power of the same can be controlled on principles well-known to manufacturers in this art.

After the gun has been fired and the projectile ejected by the propelling charge, as just described, the cartridge case, after serving as an auxiliary barrel, will remain held engaging the short barrel of the piece until released therefrom. This may be accomplished by releasing the spring latch and tilting the piece downward, and allowing the f cartridge case to fall out by its own weight, or the empty cartridge case may be with.

drawn by hand, and stored away for further use.

Should a misre occur in the small arm, this may be due to hang re or defective ammunition, and the loaded cartridge case may I be either released and allowed to drop away from the weapon, as when in. use on air craft, or after the roper interval for safety, the loaded cartri ge ease may be removed from the piece by hand, as described hereinbefore.

'While we have shown a parachute having a flare as important features of the projectile, it will be obvious that other illuminating or signalling devices may be used or other devices may be carried in the cartridge case, and we do not mean to limit the invention to this particular arrangement.

It will be obvious that various changes might be made in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, which could be .used without departing from the spirit of our invention, and we do not meanto limit the invention to such details except as particularly pointed out in the claims.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:-

1. Fixed ammunition for use with firearms, comprising a cartridge case forming an auxiliary barrel for the small arm and provided with a stem adapted to slide freely in the gun barrel with a propelling charge in said stem, the said stem having a chamber for the expansion of the gases from the propelling-charge, and said cartridge Case having an enlarged loadingl chamber in front of said stem, with a projectile mounted in said loading chamber, and adapted to be ejected therefrom by the gases from the propelling charge, said projectile comprising a tube closed at its rear slidably mounted in said loading chamber, signalling-devices mounted in said tube, and an expelling charge mounted in the base of said tube, with means controlled by the firing of the piece for igniting said expelling charge.

2. Fixed -ammumtlon for usewith low power smooth bore re arms, having a short o pelling charge, sai

vbarrel of large calibre, said ammunition comprising a cartridge case forming an auxiliary barrel for the small arm and provided with a rearwardly projecting portion adapted to slide freely in the gun barrel with a `propelling charge in the rear end of said cartridge case, and having a chamber for the expansion of the gases from the ropelling charge, and said cartridge case aving a loading chamber in front of said expansion chamber, with a projectile mounted in said loading chamber, and adapted to be ejected therefrom by the gases from the protube closed at its rear slidably mounted in said loading chamber, signalling devices mounted in said tube, and an expelling charge mounted in the base of said tube with means controlled by the firing of the small arm for igniting said expelling charge.

3. Fixed ammunition for use with low power smooth bore firearms, having a short barrel of large calibre, with hand controlled means for detachably holding the ammunition in the gun, said ammunition comprising a cartridge ease formingan auxiliary barrel for the small arm and provided with a stem adapted to slide freely in the gun barrel With a propelling charge in the rear end of said stem, the said stem having a chamber' for the expansion of the gases .from the propelling charge, and said .cartridge case having an enlarged loading chamber in front of said stem, with a projectile mounted in said loading chamber, and adapted. to be ejected therefrom by the gases from the propelling charge, said projectile comprising a tube closed at its rear slidably mounted in said loading chamber, signalling devices mounted in said tube, and an expelling charge mounted in the base of said tube, with means controlled by thefiring of the small arm for igniting said expelling charge.

4. Fixed ammunition for use with low power smooth bore fire arms, having a short barrel of large calibre, said. ammunition comprising a cartridge case forming an auxiliary barrel for the small arm and provided with a stem'adapted to slide freely in the gun barrel with a propelling charge in the rear end of said stem, the said stem having a chamber for the expansion of the gases from the propelling charge, and said cartridge case having an enlarged loading chamber in front of said stem, with a projectile mounted in said loading chamber, and adapted to be ejected therefrom by the gases from the propelling charge, said projectile comprising a tube closed at its rear slidably mounted in said loading chamber, signalling devices mounted in said tube, and an expelling charge mounted in the base of said tube, with means controlled by the firing of the small arm for igniting 'said expelling charge.

yprojectile comprising a lln 5. Fixed ammunition for use with low power smooth bore firearms, having a short barrel of large calibre with a spring latch normally projecting into said barrel, said ammunition comprising a cartridge case forming an auxiliary barrel for the small arm and provided with a stem adapted to slide freely in the gun barrel with a propellino charge in the rear end of said stem, an an annular groove adapted to engage said latch, the said stem having a chamber for the expansion of the gases from the propelling charge, and said cartridge case having an enlarged loading chamber in front of said stern, with a projectile mounted in said loading chamber, and adapted to be ejected therefrom by the gases from theAv propelling charge, said projectile comprising a tube closed at its rear slidably mounted in said loading chamber, signalling devices mounted in said tube, and an expelling charge mounted in the base of said tube, with means controlled b 'the firing of the small arm for igniting said expelling charge.

6. Fixed ammunition for use with lirearnis, comprising a cartridge case forming an auxiliary barrel for thesmall arm and provided with a stem adapted to slide freely in the gun barrel, the said stem having a chamber for the expansion of the gases from the propelling charge, and said cartridge case having an enlarged loading chamber in front of said stem, with a pro'ectile mounted in said loading chamber, an adapted to be ejected therefrom by the gases from the propelling charge, said projectile comprising a tube slidably mounted in the loading chamber of the cartridge case, a parachute and a flare mounted in said tube an expelling charge also mounted in said tube for ejecting said parachute and flare and for igniting said flare, and means, controlled by the firing .of the small arm, for igniting said expelling charge.

7. Fixed ammunition for use with low power smooth bore firearms, having a short barrel of large calibre, said lammunition comprising a cartridge case forming an auxiliary barrel for the small arm and provided with a rearwardly projecting portion adapted to slide freely in the gun barrel with a propelling charge in the rear end of the cartridge case, and having a chamber for the expansion of the gases from the propelling charge, and said cartridge case having a loading chamber in front of said expansion chamber, with a projectile mounted in said loading chamber, and adapted to be ejected therefrom by the gases from the propelling charge, said projectile comprising a tube slidably mounted in the loading chamber of the cartridge case, a parachute and flare mounted in said tube, an expelling charge also mounted in said tube for ejecting said parachute and flare and for igniting said flare, and

means, controlled by the irin of the, small' arm, for igniting said expelling charge.-

8. Fixed ammunition for use with low power smooth bore firearms, having a short barrel of large calibre, with hand controlled means for detachably holding the ammunition in the gun, said ammunition compris- 'ejected therefrom b the gases from the propelling charge, sai( projectile comprising a tube slidably mounted in the loading chamber of the cartridge case, a parachute and flare mounted in said tube, an expelling charge also mounted in said tube for ejecting said parachute and-flare and for igniting said flare, and means, controlled by the firing of the small arm, for igniting said expelling charge.

9. Fixed ammunition for use with low power smooth bore firearms, having a short barrel of large calibre, said ammunition comprising a cartridge case forming an auxiliary barrel for the small arm and provided with a stem adapted to slide freely in the gun barrel with a propelling charge in the rear end of said stem, the said stem having a chamber for the expansion of the gases from the propelling charge, and said cartridge case having an enlarged loading chamber in front of said stem, With a projectile mounted in said loading chamber, and adapted to be ejected therefrom by the gases from the propelling charge, said projectile comprising a tube slidably mounted in the loading chamber of the cartridge case, a parachute and flare mounted in said tube, an expelling charge also mountedin said tube for ejecting said parachute and iare and for igniting said flare, and means, controlled by the firing of the small arm, for igniting said expelling charge.

10. Fixed ammunition for use with low power smooth bore lire arms, having a short barrel of large calibre, with a spring latch normally projecting into the gun barrel, said ammunition comprising a cartridge case forming an auxiliary barrel for the small arm and provided with a stem adapted to slide freely inthe gun barrel with a pro-` pelling charge in the rear end of said'stem, and an anular groove adapted to engage said latch, thesaid stem having a chamber for the expansion of the gases from the propelling charge, and said cartridge case having an enlarged loading chamber in front Aof said stem, withv a projectile mounted in lll) said loading chamber, and adapted to be ing said parachute and Hare and for ignitejected therefrom by the gases from the mg said flare, and means, centrolled by the r propelling charge, said projectile comprisfiring of the small arm, for Jgmtmg said ex- 10 lng a tube slidably mounted inthe loading pellmg charge.

l 5 chamber of the cartridge case, a parachute d fl ounted in sald tube, an expelling LOUIS L. DRIGGS JR. im-grlsrg mounted in said. tube for eject- HENRY B. FABER.

D l s ci L A l M E R .1,712,383.-Lms L. l 'gs, Jr., New Rochelle, and Henry B. Faber, New York, N Y, FIXED i l 'noN non FmEAnMs. Patent dated May 7, 1929. Disclaimer filed December 3, 1942, by Harriet J. Macal'ster, executrix of said Faber, deceased, and Ethel L. Drggs, executrix of said Dmggs, deceased. Hereby enter this disclaimer to claims 2 and 7 in said specification.

[Qcal Gazette January`12,v1943.] 

